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Processing and properties of some alumina-boride composites

Conference ·
OSTI ID:100548
 [1]
  1. Brunel Univ., Uxbridge (United Kingdom). Dept. of Materials Technology
Alumina (Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) test bars containing a small (5--10%) volume of titanium diboride (TiB{sub 2}) or zirconium diboride (ZrB{sub 2}) particles have been pressed and sintered (pressureless) in an argon atmosphere. The microstructure of the sintered bodies was characterized by X-ray diffraction and a range of microscopical techniques and shows that 3 ppm (by volume) of oxygen present in the argon caused the boride particles in the surface regions of the test bars to oxidize during sintering, to a greater extent in the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-TiB{sub 2} composites. Mechanisms of oxidation are discussed. The boride particles retarded the densification of the composites, to a greater extent in the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-ZrB{sub 2} bodies. However, densification in the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-ZrB{sub 2} system was enhanced by sintering in an Ar-4% H{sub 2} atmosphere. The decrease in flexural strength due to the retardation of sintering has been overcome in both types of composites.
OSTI ID:
100548
Report Number(s):
CONF-941144--; ISBN 1-55899-266-9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English